Opuntia flowers in a rockery

[Pia]

As I have shown under ´My collection in Finland´, Opuntia fragilis 'Füssen' is flowering outside in my rockery. After blooming, should I leave the flowers attached to the plant or remove them before they start producing fruits? I don't need the seeds, and I wonder if the plants would have better chance surviving next winter if they don't have to use energy for producing fruits. I also wonder if the plant would have more energy for growing if it don't need to produce fruits.

[Liz M]

How beautiful. You have the right conditions for Opuntias it seems. Maybe if you took off the spent flowers your plant would grow more. As you don't need the seed, you may as well try this, just to find out.

[Paul in Essex]

What gorgeous flowers!

I would also take them off once faded.

[anders]

My Opuntia fragilis clones have never produced any fruits, I don't think they are self-compatible.

[Pia]

There has been A LOT of different pollinators pollinating the flowers of those four plants. I don't know if they are clones.

You can see more pictures of them in ´My collection in Finland´ on pages 5 and 6. There I also tell about the extremely harsh conditions for plants in Finland last winter. Thus, it is a miracle that all four plants survived, especially since they seemed rottened and dead already in the autumn!

[Lyn]

Absolutely BEAUTIFUL Pia :-) Thanks so much for sharing :-)